Harrow.



J. X. MILLS. HABBOW. rPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 131908.'

91 9,4053. Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

lIOB X. MILLS, OF PINE VILLAGE, INDIANA.

HARROW.

" Application filed .Tune 17, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 438,958.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOB X. MrLLs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pine Village, in the county of Warren and State of Indiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in I-Iarrows, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved construction of harrow designedfor general harrowing and also adapted for use in breaking and cuttingcorn-stalks, cutting sod, clod crushing, ground leveling and othersimilar operations.

The object of the invention is to provide an implement of this characterwhich is simple, strong and durable in construction, eflicient in use,and susceptible of being readily controlled by the driver or operator toregulate its harrowing or crushing action.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top planview of a harrow embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2of Fig. 1, showing one mode of use of the implement. Fig. 3 is a sectionon line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing another modeof use of the implement.

The device comprises a pair of boards or plates 1 and 2 disposed inparallel relation and one in advance of the other. These boards arepivotally connected at their adj acent edges and near their ends by eyes3 or their equivalent and are further intermediately connected byinterengaging links 4 and 5, pivotally connected, respectively, at theirfront and rear ends to the respective boards 1 and 2 and detachablyconnected at their opposite or inner ends. As shown, the link or member4 is formed with an eye 6 to engage a hook 7 on the member 5 by whichthe boards or plates are so connected as to permit of a limited pivotalmovement thereof and to relieve the pivotal connection 3 of overstrain.The links or members 4 and 5 may be disconnected to permit the boards orlates to be folded one over upon the other or convenience in storage ortransportation. The rear board or plate 5 forms a drag for crushing andsmoothing purposes, and is also adapted to serve as a seat for theoperator.

A draft attachment of any preferred type i rangement in which the deviceis rearwardly plate 1, that shown in the present instance comprisingoutwardly converging rods 8 pivotally connected at their rear ends tothe board and coupled at their forward ends by a draft ring or link 9,the rods being intermediately connected and braced by a stay link 10.

The board or plate 1 carries a series of outter blades 1 1 extendinglongitudinally in parallel relation to each other and to the line ofdraft of the machine. Each of these cutter or harrow blades has itslower edge provided with front and rear convex portions 12 and anintermediate concavity 13 separating the lower ends of the same. Theblades may be secured in position in any preferred manner. In thepresent instance they are illustrated as set at their upper edges ingrooves in the underside of the board or plate and provided with centraltongues 14 extending upwardly through openings in the board or plate andbent over upon the upper surface thereof.

In operation, the implement is drawn across the field by one or moredraft animals, the operator sitting upon the drag board 2 and guidingthe animals and controlling the operation 4of the device. The machinemay be employed for general harrowing, cutting corn stalks or sod, clodcrushing, ground leveling and other similar purposes, the blades actingto cut the sod or earth or to cut through and partially break up theclods, which are Jnally engaged and broken by the drag board 2. Ingeneral harrowing and grading work the blades loosen up the soil and thedrag board crushes, pulverizes and smooths the same, as will be readilyunderstood.

The operator by inclining forwardly or rearwardly or properly disposinghis body on the board 2 may cause the apparatus to stand horizontally asin Fig. 2, so as to hold the board 2 elevated and bring both workingedges of the blades into play, or to arrange the boards in'relativelytilted positions, asin Fig. 4, so that the edges of the convex workingsurfaces 12 of the blades 11 will rest upon and cut through the soilwhile the rear edge of the board 2 will act as a drag, the extent ofpenetration also being controlled by the action of the operator inshifting the weight of his body. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of thedevice for simple harrowing, sod cutting and the like, while Fig. 4shows an armay be connected with the front board or l tilted to bringthe rear convex working surfaces of the blades into action and todispose the rear board to act as a drag for breaking up the clods andsmoothing the soil.

From the foregoing description, the construction and mode of operationof my improved barrow Will be readily understood, and it Will be seenthat it provides a simple construction of implement which may beemployed for a variety of purposes, Which is adapted to be manufacturedand sold at a comparatively low cost, and which may be convenientlyfolded for storage or transportation.

Having thus fully described the inventionI what is claimed as new is 1.A harrow or like implement comprising pivotally connected front and rearboards, Working blades carried by the front board and extending parallelto the line of draft, said blades being provided with front and rearconvex Working edges, and means connecting the boards for limiting theirrelative pivotal movement.

2. A harrow or like implement comprising front and rear pivotallyconnected boards, a draft appliance connected With the front board, andWorking blades carried by the front board, said blades being disposed inparallel relation longitudinally of the machine and each provided withfront and rear convex Working edges and an intermediate concavity.

3. A hai-row or like implement comprising front and rear pivotallyconnected boards, rods pivotally connected With the boards and having adetachable connection with each other for limiting the relative pivotalmovements of the boards, a draft connection applied to the front board,and a series of Working blades on said front board extending in parallelrelation to the line of draft and having front and rear convex Workingsurfaces.

ln testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOB X. MILLS. Witnesses JOHN L. OGBORN, JOHN A. BRYANT.

